Christmas
by Lanie LeBlanc OP

The various readings for midnight Mass and 
the Masses on Christmas Day each have a special focus to help us dwell on a 
particular aspect of Christmas. For most of us, however, Christmas remains a 
blend of all the Nativity narratives and so we have a blended picture of the 
beginning of our glorious salvation. Maybe that is a good thing and maybe it is 
not. Nonetheless, in order to bring Good News to others, there must be a 
particular image that is used.

For me, who will probably attend a 
Christmas Day Mass with my family, the image is light. The gospel reading from 
John says "the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome 
it." For many, the world has seemed very dark this last few weeks, perhaps 
because of world events or perhaps because of the effects that events in the 
world have had on families and communities. Shaking the negative, that darkness 
that is all around us, has seemed harder than usual for more and more people.

My family and I were sitting in the den 
one evening this week when we noticed some unusual lights out the window. Much 
to our surprise, there was a parade of lighted boats circling Lake Washington 
right before our eyes. There was a larger boat, perhaps one that gives "lake 
tours" that had a loud speaker and a Christmas choir. Out of the darkness, came 
this wonderful light and joyous strains of music. What a needed delight ! For 
me, the connection was obvious.

It is important to remember, I think, that 
the Light of the World, Jesus, dispelled all the darkness that could possibly 
be, then, now, and forever. We can continue to reflect that Light in the world 
today by bringing the Good News of the Light of the World into all of the dark 
places that linger in our midst. To paraphrase St. Francis: it only takes a tiny 
glimmer of light to triumph over the darkest of dark times.

(Comments to Lanie at lanieleblanc@mindspring.com.)